haikaiTALKS: a saturday gathering! 16th August 2025

haikaiTALKS: Japanese aesthetics:  

Ka-chō-fū-getsu   Part 2 – Birds|a saturday gathering under the banyan tree

A Disclaimer

Responsibility for the originality of the haikai rests solely with the submitting poet. 

If anyone feels that it is similar to another haikai, they are encouraged to contact the relevant poet directly.

Triveni Haikai India will take any action as recommended by the submitting poet.

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Special Guest Poet: Keiko Izawa

host: Srinivasa Sambangi 16th August 2025

haikaiTALKS: a saturday gathering under the banyan tree

Your Guest Poet for AUGUST for haikaiTALKS: Keiko Izawa

haikaiTALKS August 2025

Ka-chō-fū-getsu   Part 2 – Birds

(花・鳥・風・月)

Ka (flower) - Chō (bird) - Fū (wind) - Getsu (moon) is a four-character idiom that encapsulates the beauty of nature and its cyclical patterns. Specifically, "flower" symbolizes the beauty of spring, "bird" represents the vitality of living creatures and the scenery of early summer, "wind" signifies the shifting of the seasons, and "moon" refers to the beauty of an autumn evening. This idea is often used to create art and poetry that reflects the beauty of nature throughout the four seasons. These natural elements frequently convey human emotions and feelings.

This week, you are requested to write up to two haiku on BIRDS, inspired by the concept of kachōfūgetsu. Please include the aesthetic elements such as wabi, sabi, yūgen, mujō, miyabi, shibumi, karumi, etc. Try to use a bird kigo from the link below. Your local kigo is also welcome.

https://wkdkigodatabase03.blogspot.com/2006_12_01_archive.html

Samples:

稲雀　茶の木畠や　逃げ処 

inasuzume/ cha no kibatake ya/ nigedokoro

post-harvest sparrows –

nowhere to hide

in the tea garden

~ Basho

ふり仰ぐ　空の青さや　鶴渡る 

furiaogu/ sora no aosa ya/ tsuru wataru

looking up

into the deep blue sky –

cranes cross

~ Sugita Hisajo

梟の　ねむたき貌の　吹かれける 

fukurō no/ nemutaki kao no/ fukare keru

sleepy owl –

its face ruffled

by the wind

~ Karube Utōshi

啄木鳥や　落葉をいそぐ　牧の木々 

kitsutsuki ya/ ochiba o isogu/ maki no kigi

woodpecker –

leaves quicken their fall

from pasture trees

~ Mizuhara Shūōshi

鳥わたる　こきこきこきと　缶切れば 

tori wataru/ kokikoki to/ kan kireba

click by click

opening the can –

migrating birds

~ Ishida Hakyō

“A Dictionary of Haiku Classified by Season Words with Traditional and Modern Methods,” by Jane Reichhold:

https://thehaikufoundation.org/omeka/files/original/7fb6654a1dfd1afef97369da920530f8.pdf

Indian subcontinent SAIJIKI:

https://www.trivenihaikai.in/indian-saijiki

The Five Hundred Essential Japanese Season Words:

http://www.2hweb.net/haikai/renku/500ESWd.html

The World Kigo Database:

https://wkdkigodatabase03.blogspot.com/

The Yuki Teikei Haiku Season Word List:

https://yths.org/season-word-list/

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Thanks, Keiko! Most beautiful.

I'm positive our poets will take up this challenge and create a haiku on these lines!

Greatly indebted to you.

Dear Members,

Please give your feedback on others' commentary and poems, too. _()_

We are continuing haikaiTALKS in a grand manner!

Keep writing and commenting! _kala